(SEYMOUR, IN) - Two Mitchell residents were arrested in Jackson County early this morning for attempting to steal anhydrous ammonia liquid which can be used to manufacture methamphetamine.

24-year-old Donald Carter and 28-year-old Christopher Leatherman both of Mitchell are facing preliminary charges of conspiracy to commit theft.

According to Chief Deputy Darin Downs of the Jackson County Sherrif Department the two men were dropped off by an unknown male on State Road 258 in the town of Cortland, about three miles west of Seymour.

Downs says that typically when someone tries to steal Anhydrous for meth purposes, they would have emptied out a propane tank of fire extinguisher and then pour the chemical into the containers and use it as part of the process to manufacture meth.

Workers handle Anhydrous
Ammonia while wearing
protective clothing.

Downs stresses that the chemical is "extremely dangerous and a touch to the skin with the chemical can burn flesh to the bone."

Police have released no other information at this time; officials say that right now they are trying to identify the man that dropped the two off to steal the chemical.

24-year-old Donald Carter

28-year-old Christopher Leatherman

Anhydrous Liquid is most commonly used as fertilizer on farms.

The two Mitchell men attempted to steal the liquid from KOVA inc., a company that makes the chemical.